Commencement and campus move-out traffic tips

May 17, 2013

Five commencement ceremonies, along with residence hall move-out days, will bring large crowds to campus this weekend, creating traffic congestion in the area. This scene is from Spring Commencement in 2008.

Thousands of UW students are moving out of their residence halls this week and thousands of others will be streaming to and from commencement ceremonies at the Kohl Center.

That, combined with extensive ongoing construction on many campus streets, will likely lead to congestion and large amounts of pedestrian traffic.

The southeast area of campus will be particularly busy from Friday through Sunday, when there will be five commencement ceremonies at the Kohl Center and move-out taking place at Ogg, Sellery, Witte and Newell Smith halls. University Housing is asking motorists to avoid the area if possible.

In order to reduce traffic congestion in the vicinity of the Kohl Center, a complimentary shuttle bus service will be available to transport participants and their guests who choose to park in the vicinity of the engineering campus and Camp Randall Stadium (see list of parking lots at http://www.secfac.wisc.edu/commence/ParkingHints.htm) to and from the Kohl Center.

The shuttle will provide service every 10 to 15 minutes on Friday, May 17 from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m., and on Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The shuttle will pick up and drop off at the Madison Metro bus stop located on North Randall Avenue near Engineering Drive, proceed on West Dayton Street to the Kohl Center, and return to North Randall Avenue. Shuttle stops will be designated by signs.

Motorists are also asked to avoid the follow streets with ongoing construction.

Observatory Drive: Closed to both directions of traffic west of Park Street to Charter Street.

Langdon Street: Currently open to one-way, westbound traffic near Memorial Union.